Display and like devices



Nov. 6, 1956 w. G. HORTON DISPLAY AND LIKE DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sneel 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1955 jzyz H Nov. 6, 1956 wfe. HORTON DISPLAY AND LIKE DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1953 I yZZ 62 1 1 1924 85 82 as 76 1 11L United States Patent C DISPLAY AND LIKE DEVICES Gray Horton, Northampton, England Application February 19, 1953, Serial No. 337,846

1 Claim. (Cl. 211-87) This invention relates to display and like devices of the type comprising perforated or slotted plates of metal or other suitable material adapted to receive and retain indicating means of various forms, for example tabs, strips or otherwise having parts adapted to be engaged with the perforations, for example through and behind such perforations, which perforated or slotted plates in some cases may have backing plates attached to the rear thereof and spaced from said rear, and has for its object to improve the construction of such plates and of various indicating means to be used therewith.

In general, in accordance with the principal feature of the present invention a perforated plate for a display and like device in accordance with the invention is of rectangular or square shape of suitable dimensions and gauge, having at its edges rearwardly extending and integral main flanges coming at right angles thereto and meeting in four corners. In addition these main flanges themselves at the rear have auxiliary and inwardly projecting integral flanges to come parallel with the perforated plate at a desired distance therefrom. Both the main and auxiliary flanges at the rear of the device at the corners are cut away for a short distance from the corners to leave the auxiliary flanges in hook-like form for engagement over shaped carrier rails for attachment to walls and other supporting surfaces.

In this manner any suitable number of the perforated plates can be supported by a rail so that the plates come side by side giving a display area to any extent required. Alternatively, the plates may be arranged one above the other or in any desired combination side by side and one above the other, so that any desired area can be built up. This area can have what may be called side members of narrow width to take titles or side headings, either coming on the left-hand side or right-hand side or both, or upper members to take top headings.

In addition, the lower edges of the flanged perforated plates, of a simple assembly or a built-up assembly including plates arranged one above the other, may engage with a similar supporting rail and means are provided in the main flanges, such as'apertures, whereby adjacent plates, side by side or one above the other, can be attached together, for example by nuts and bolts.

The perforations in the plates preferably comprise a plurality of parallel spaced rows of elongated slitpjerforationsand a further plurality of parallel spaced' rows of elongated slit perforations at right angles to the said first-mentioned rows, the elongated slit perforations of said further rows extending at right angles to those of the first-mentioned rows, whereby the perforations as a whole define a plurality of adjoining squares, of unit area.

To form a continuous display surface when made up from a number of adjoining perforated plates, the main flanges are bent along the central portion of a row of perforations which come at right angles thereto so that when two plates are joined together the two rows of half perforations which come together constitute a row of complete perforations. To enable the attaching portions of the indicators proper (hereafter to be described) to be engaged in such built-up perforations, the flanges in these positions of the two adjoining perforated plates have apertures of suitable shape extending a desired distance down the sides thereof.

Although the perforations as above described are suitable for the majority of purposes, yet in some cases in addition each imaginary square can have a circular perforation therethrough, preferably at its centre, for the reception of pegs, the ends of wires, cords or otherwise.

In place of attaching adjoining plates together by fastening means extending through the flanges, a totaldisplay surface built up from a number of perforated plates can be joined together by framing members of angle section, which are attached to the main flanges of the perforated plates to consolidate the whole. Such framing members may also act as retainers for transparent or other covers.

It will be realized that the indicating surface built up with perforated plates according to the invention serves to carry various indicating means proper for the formation of charts, graphs or otherwise according to any particular code and may have headings at the top and titles, scales or other built-up information at one or both edges, Further, the tabulating or charting can be changed periodically to show changing conditions of any planning or other scheme.

According to a subordinate feature of the invention, each perforated flanged plate has a backing plate attached to the rear thereof and spaced from said rearby means which do not hinder the insertion of the attaching parts of the indicators proper. Such attaching parts of the indicators proper come into frictional and springy engagement with the inner surface of such backing plate which thus assists to prevent the accidental displacement or removal of the indicators proper. The backing plate prevents accidental removal of the indicators from the rear.

According to a further feature of the invention, a transparent, opaque or other screening means may .be provided to cover in the surface carrying the built-up indications.

Such a screen assists in maintaining the indicators proper in position and, especially when 'used in conjunction with the backing plate, permits a builtup chai t or the like to be moved without fear of the indicators proper being displaced. Further, such a screen prevents aceidental displacement of the indicators proper when dusting or otherwise. When of transparent ,rnaterial, even when the screen is in position it permits the chart or the like to be scen. In some cases, however, the information displayed on a chart or the like is confidential and only to be seen by certain individuals and in such cases the screen can be of opaque material and if neces sary have means by which it can be locked or held in position until removed by an authorized person.

The screen can be of any suitable thin material, for

example sheet perspex or other plastic, the upper edgeof which is constructed or shaped to'hook over'the upper part of the chart or the like or co-operate with books attached to it for such purpose; for example the upper edge of its top frame member, and to extend down to 'the lower edge thereof; In some cases, to keep this lower edge in place the lower part of the chart can carrya suitably disposed flange behind which the lower edge of the screen is located, or a bottom rail can carry one or more rotary retaining buttons. In the case of aflange, this may come on a member extending along the lower edge of the chart or a member attached to the lower frame member of the chart.

The upper edge ofthe screen may constitute a running "a cursor or tbe'like to be utilized in conjunction 'withthe information. built up on the chart or for temporarily locating a neighboring screen member which has been removed. i The invention comprises further features more particularly concerned with the'indicating means to be hereafter described.

' In order that the invention may be 'better understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying somewhat diagrammatic drawings which are given by way of example only and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one smallcorner portion of a preferred form of perforated plate in accordance with the invention. j

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a side elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 a plan of Fig. l, and

, r 4 1 35 which extend parallel with the plate 32. These flanges do not extend to the corner 34'but end some distance therefrom and also at their terminations the flanges 33 are cut away for a required distance at 36. In the result, a channel-like space 37 is left behind the'hook-like flanges V cerned, such imaginary squares may have /2" sides. The bends of the flanges 33 come at the centre of half slots 39 so that when two perforated plates are placed together the half-slots 39 of one plate complete the half-slots of the adjacent plate to form one row of perforations, thus Fig. 5 an isometric view taken from the rear, of the 7 structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4. a V l Fig. 6 is an elevation of a portion of a carrier rail for perforated plates such as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and

Fig. 7 a sectional end view thereof. Fig. 8 shows to a smaller scale an elevation of the upper portion of a'number of perforated plates supported by a rail such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a side view of Fig. 8. a Fig. 10 is an elevation and Fig. 11 an end view of a portion of a framing member for the joining of a number of perforated plates, such for example as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. a a

Fig. 12. shows, also to a smaller scale, a number of perforated plates according to the inventiomframed by members such as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.-

Fig. 13 shows to a smaller scale a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but in section, ofa cornerof a perforated plate in accordance with the invention, with an associated backing plate.

Fig. 14 shows in elevation to'a different scale, and Fig. 15 a side view thereof, a perforated plate system according to the invention with an associated transparent cover.

Fig. 16 shows a view similar to Fig. 15 but of a modification. i I

Figs. 17 to 32 show views, mainly in elevation, of various forms of indicating means proper in accordance with the invention and for use on the perforated plates, to be more fully described hereafter.

Perforated plates in accordance with the invention can be and preferably are made as units in certain standard sizes, for example they may be 30" x 15", 7 /2" x 15", and 3%" x 30", and it has been found this combination of sizes will allow a great variety of sizes of total indicating surface to be built up. In addition, the long narrow perforated plates, that is to say, 3%" wide and 30" high, can carry headings or titles and be used in association with other perforated panels coming at their side and forming a series of charting fields adapted to; be moved or removed in turn and replaced by others without interference with the titles. Such a method of. use in some cases avoids the necessity of side headings and titles on the panels themselves, which would otherwise be necessary. V 7

Figs. 1 to 5 show only acorner of a plate some. 2" square but it will be appreciated that all the four corners to make the indicating surface continuous.

To enable the engaging portions of indicating devices proper to engage in these slots which are built up from two half-slots, the flanges 33 in the requisite position are apertured at 40. In the drawings these apertures or openings are shown rectangular but they may be semi-circular or otherwise. a p

In spaced positions the flanges 33 have apertures 41 so that when two plates are placed side by side or one above the other, these apertures of one unit coincide with those of the next so that the units can be fastened together by bolts and nuts or other securing means. They further can be used to carry frame retaining or other members as hereafter described.

In some cases if desired in addition to the straight perforations 38 the imaginary squares can have at their centre apertures for the reception of pegs or other suitable indicating devices. Such an aperture 41 is shown in one position in Fig. 2 but it should be understood that where desired on'the perforated plate or plates such apertures can come in every imaginary square.

To enable a perforated plate such as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, or a series thereof,.to be carried on a wall or other supporting surface, carrier rails such as shown in'Figs. 6.

and 7 are employed. These comprise a metal strip 43. with a stepped bent portion 44 andhaving a series of perforations 92 by which it can be attached to a wall or other surface to leave the portion 44 projecting. Figs. 8'

and 9 show such a portion 44 attached to a wall so that the portion 44 supportsthe'upper edges of a-number of perforated plates 45 by the hooked flanges 35 and shaped portions 37 engaging th'ereover. When thus. sup-- ported, the plates 45 can be moved sideways when re-. quired for renewal'or for a progressive system'and also if required the touching flanges 33 of adjacent plates can be fastened together. If not fastened together, the plates can of course be removed individually at will. f

Although not necessary, the lower edges'of the plates 45 can also engage with a carrier rail such as 43 .if desired, in which case the plates can slide on the rails.

If it is required to frame any combination of perforated plates according to the invention, members such as shown at-Figs. 10 and 11 can be utilized. Such a member is of 7 angle section strip having a framing flange 46 and an atare the same and that the plate has perforations extending over the whole of its area similar to those shown. In

these'figures, 32 is the plate which is of sheet material preferably metal of desired gauge and has integral main taching flange 47. The attaching flange has apertures to coincide with theapertures 41 of the flanges 33 so that a framing strip can unite'a series of perforated plates by their upper and lower edges. They can alsobe positioned on the side edges. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 12 where the framing portions 46 are seen bounding the series of perforated plates 45.. In Fig; 12, each end'portion of each framing member has itsfront flange rounded.-

It will be realized that in addition to acting as framing members, their outer edgescan act as supports for cursors to be adjustably positioned thereon and in some cases,-

as hereafter explained, can also be used for the hanging of screening means. Although it is not practical:to show the straight perforations 38 in views such as Figs; 8 .and 12, it will be realized that the plates 45 "have the perforations 38 at- Iangedtherethroughin,themanner shown in Figs- 5..

Where required, the perforated plate proper such as 32 may have spaced therefrom and carry a backing plate such as 48 a portion of which is shown in Fig. 13. This has desired spacing and is held in position by a series of small bolts and nuts 91, these latter coming in depressions 91a or embossments in the backing'plate which act as spacing members, so positioned that uniform and adequate support is given Without interfering with the insertion and removal of the attaching portions of indicating means. Such a backing plate in some cases co-operates with the "inserted portions of the indicating members proper, as will be hereafter explained, and serves to prevent accidental removal from the back of all indicators proper or their displacement.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, the latter shows the carrier rail structure such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, on a wall 49 engaging flanges 35 both on the upper and lower portions of the chart or the like. In addition, the perforated plates are shown bounded by framing members attached thereto by screws and bolts 50.

Although no actual display of indicating members proper is shown on the perforated plate, it is covered in by a screening member 51 of thin transparent sheet material, for instance perspex or other plastic. At its upper edge this has a hooked-over portion 52 which engages the actual upper framing member 46. Its lower edge 53 is free in Fig. 14 (left-hand side) but may be accommodated in a shaped retaining strip 54 is indicated in Fig. 15.

Fig. 16, which is a view similar to Fig. 15, shows a somewhat different arrangement of the screening means and it should be remarked that the 'left hand part of Fig. 14 is an elevation of the arrangement shown in the upper part of Fig. 15 whilst the right-hand part of Fig. 14 shows the arrangement according to Fig. 16. In this last-mentioned figure, 84 is the screen the upper edge 85 of which constitutes a running rail and which has on its rear surface either a hook rail or a series of hooks 86 for engaging over the framing member 46. The lower edge of the screen 84 in this case comes behind an up-turned flange 87 on a member 88 secured to the lower edges of the plates.

By the utilization of screens such as shown in Fig. 16, they could be made in sections and one screen portion can be removed and hooked over the rail 85 of the next succeeding screen portion if and when required. Further, the upper edges 85 constituting rails can be used for the support and adjustable positioning of cursors such as 89 indicated in the right-handhalf of Fig. 14.

The indicating means proper for location on the perforated plates may be of any suitable known form and may be designed to cover unit area or multiple unit area. They can be of any. suitable sheet material which is transparent, translucent or opaqueand of any desired colour or colours. In many cases they are of thin sheet plastic material and so designed, coloured and manufactured that they readily show up against the background surface of the perforated plate which may be of any colour but preferably is white.

An elementary and simple form is shown in Fig. 17 Where the indicating device is comprised by a square portion 55 having integral tabs 56. Its shape and disposition are such that the tabs 56 can be inserted in any two parallel straight slots 38 and be retained therein. it will be obvious that by suitably disposing a plurality of such indicating means, which can be of various colours, information can be built up upon a perforated surface according to a particular code.

Fig. 18 shows a similar device but here the main portion 57 of the indicator is designed to cover more than unit area, for example two unit areas, although any suitable plurality can be covered. In addition to the tabs 56 such as shown, in some cases a tab or tabs may come on the other edges.

Figs. 19 and 20 show in elevation and plan, a somewhat 6 similar form of indicating means but here in place of tabs 56 two parallel edges are crimped round at 58 and such crimped-round edges can be sprung into two parallel slots 38. Here again, the indicator can be made to cover more than unit area.

In some cases when using indicators such as shown Figs. 17 and 19 to build up a continuous strip or the like horizontally or vertically across or partly across the perforated plate, a strip of suitable perforated material can be laid on the surface of the perforated plate, this strip having desired width and having perforations corresponding with those on the panel, so that the signals proper hold this strip in position by being inserted through the perforations in the strip to engage in the perforations in the panel proper.

Subsequently, therefore, when it is desired to remove the indicators proper from the perforated plate it is simply necessary to hold one end of this strip and pull on the other, which has the eifect of pulling all the indicators from the perforated plate.

Figs. 21 and 22 are similar views to Figs. 19 and 20, the construction being the same but the main portion 59 of the indicator being arranged to cover more than unit area.

For building up bar charts, that is to say, where the charts have continuous strips or lines, and for defining columns, building headings and side headings, and for other purposes, the indicating means may be comprised by a continuous strip such for example as 60 shown in Fig. 23. This can have a hook-like formation given to it by bending at one end to be engaged in a slot such as 38 and then continued for a desired length on the perforated surface for its other end to be engaged in a desired parallel slot. The hook-like end coming on the interior may be of such length and shape that it comes into frictional spring'y and gripping relationship with a backing plate such as 47, Fig. 13. The other end of the strip when inserted into the appropriate slot also frictionally engages the surface of the backing plate.

With somewhat similar structures, in place of the hooklike and being formed by the opeartor, such strips may have already been manufactured with hook-like means. Such a construction is shown in the perspective view of Fig. 24 where 61 is the strip and 62 the pro-formed hooklike end. In this case if desired the other end of the strip may be tapered as at 63 to assist its insertion into any required and appropriate slot 38; this end also frictionally engages the backing plate.

Fig. 25 shows one end of a strip indicator 64 which terminates in ahead 65 having tabs 66 for engagement in two parallel slots 38. This serves to secure one end of the strip 64 in position, the other end, as previously described, being passed through the appropriate slot 38. Headed strips such as 64 allow a strip of one colour to be superposed over a strip of another colour provided the heads are spaced apart by at least one unit space and in this manner in the changing circumstances of a chart or the like one strip may be moved over another, the varied proportions of the colours from time to time giving the requisite information. In built-up charts and the like where strips are moved one over the other, the under strip may have successive or other numbers thereon which are revealed in a desired sequence by the varied positioning of the upper strip. Strips may be formed with a third tab 90.

A somewhat similar structure to that shown in Fig. 25 is shown in Fig. 26 where the strip 67 has a head 68 having crimpings 69 similar to those shown in Figs. 19 to 22 on two parallel edges thereof. This construction permits displays similar to that possible with the structure shown in Fig. 25 but in addition enables every row to be used.

For columns and other headings if desired a wire support may be utilized. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 27 and 28 where 70 is a wire the ends 71 of which can be sprung into and supported by, two parallel spaced slots such as 38. or even apertures 'such as, 42 (Fig. 1); The wire proper 70 comes on the front of the plate 32 and supports between itself and'the perforated plate 32 a shaped sheet 73 of cardboard,.metal, plastic or. other materialhavingprojections 7.4 at the upper .end which rest upon the portion 71 of the wire. This shaped. sheet 73 can carry any suitable information such as particulars of names, materials, or otherwise. It will be seen how easily such information can be displayed on any suitable portion of the perforated surface.

With large size indicators, suchfor example as head -ings. proper, or large coloured discs, tabs for engaging in the appropriate slots 38 can be staggered; Such a construction is shown in Fig. 29 where 75 is the indicator, in this case hearing the marking '76 of the letter H. This indicator covers a multiple of unit area and its upper edge has an attaching tab 77 towards one corner whilst its lower edge has a similar attaching tab 78 towards a corner on the other side. Each of the tabs 77, 78 engages in an appropriate slot 38. By such a construction it is possible to dispose indicators such as 75 one about the other withoutinterference.

Figs. 30, 31 and 32 show in elevation, side viewand plan, respectively, a sheet metal carrier of unit sheet form 79 with a central integral hook portion '80 pointed at its lower end Which-may comeinto contact with and engage a backing such as 47 (Fig. 13).

This unit area 79 at its lower edge has a returned flange or the like 81 and is adapted to carry slipped thereover an indicator proper such as that shown in" Figs. 19 and 20, that is to'say, having a main area of indication 82 with crimped edges 83. 1 V

This main carrier 82' is prevented from slipping off the plate 79 by the stop edge 81 while between the main one placed in position are diflicult to remove except,

after the indicator is detached from the perforated plate. In all cases it will be understood that the indications proper themselves may simply be areas of colour, opaque,

translucent or transparent extending over unit or other.

area. However, such may carry or have associated therewith markings of any nature to form indications such as letters, numerals or otherwise j 'In this last connection, especially for strip indications,

these may carry scales of length or partition or otherwise to divide or sub-divide distances and may be corelated with other similar scales. In some cases the indicator proper can take the form of an endless band located between a suitably distanced pair of slots, onehalf of the band having one colour and the other half another colour, preferably the background colour. In manner by moving the endless band into various positions. a

different proportion of the coloured part is 7 shown.

The invention is not limtied to the precise forms or detailsof construction herein set' forth, as these may be bars, a construction in which each plate is formed'from a single sheet metal blank with a central rectangular area and four rectangular extensions thereto based on its four sides, the smaller sides of all the rectangular extensions being of the same length, thecentral rectangular'area havinga plurality of spaced rows of elongated slit perforations parallel to two of its sides, and a further plurality of parallel spaced rows of elongated slit perforations at right angles to the said first mentioned rows and parallel to its other two sides, whereby the perforations as a whole define a plurality of adjoining squares of unit area, and in which the last rows of slit perforations adjacent the sides of said rectangular area are spaced from said sides at a distance equal to half the side of such square, slit perforations of half the length of the other perforations continuing the spaced rows of parallel slit perforations and terminating at the sides of the: rectangular area and there opening into rows of similarly spaced rectangular holes coming beyond and bounding the rectangular area and located in the four rectangular extensions, each of the said rectangular extensions at its outer corners having similar rectangular portions cut away to leave its outer longer side, with a central outer projecting portion, the rectangular extensions being bent at right angles along the sides of the rectangular area to constitute main flanges, and said central outer projecting portions of the rectangular extensions'beingbent along median lines parallel to the sides of'therectangular area to form auxiliary flanges on the main flanges and to provide four hooks bounding four channel-like spaces so that any two parallel hooks may engage said; spaced parallel bars. 1

References Cited in the file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dec. 17, 1929 Mapson Oct. 21, 1952 

